In games, as in film, Indiana Jones has had a rough patch. The intrepid archaeologist's recent big-screen exploits have met with lukewarm reception at best, with 2008's The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and 2023's The Dial of Destiny both failing to reignite the excitement enjoyed by the original 1980s trilogy; so, too, have his gaming excursions struggled. A defunct Facebook game, a handful of mobile efforts, and a couple of Lego outings over the last 15 years are all poor follow-ups to the likes of The Fate of Atlantis. Thankfully, The Great Circle marks a reversal of fortunes. This is an adventure impressive enough to stand alongside Spielberg's finest cinematic moments. It could have gone the other way. Early on, developer MachineGames hewed too closely to the movies' template, with an intro sequence that replicates almost shot-for-shot (bar the first-person perspective) the opening to Raiders of the Lost Ark. The result is a linear experience that feels scared to deviate from...
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